Joanna James
The Maldives may not be known for its cuisine, but there are numerous mouth-watering Maldivian dishes. Here are some of the exotic dishes you must try on your travels in the Maldives.
Also called Dhivehi cuisine, Maldivian cuisine is influenced by regional cuisines like Sri Lankan and Indian cuisines. Starches, coconut milk, and tuna are the three main components of Maldivian cuisine. Maldivians use an array of spices to flavour their dishes, and some tourists may find the dishes to be too spicy. A Maldives restaurant, the likes offered by VARU by Atmosphere, for example, is the best place to sample traditional Maldivian dishes, but these places also serve an array of international culinary varieties. If you haven't tried spicy food before, be sure to ask the chef to moderate the level of spiciness; it's important because some Maldivian dishes can be extremely spicy due to the use of chillies.
This is cake made of fish. Minced peppers, grated coconuts, ginger, and fish are blended together to make Kulhi Borkibaa. This is a popular festival food but can be eaten any time you want. Sweet tea is the best accompaniment to fish cake.
The main breakfast dish in the Maldives, Mas Huni is a concoction of tuna and spices. Grated coconut, onions, and tuna are mashed together to make Mas Huni and served with bread or flatbread. If you have this for your breakfast, order a cup of sweet tea to go along with it.
One of the popular dessert items in the Maldives, Saagu Bondibai is made of sago, coconut milk, sugar, condensed milk, and cardamom and is the Maldivian version of pudding. This is an absolute must-try if you have a sweet tooth.
Tuna is the type of fish used for Maldivian fish curry. Cooked in a base of coconut milk and spices, cubes of tuna are simmered and sautéed for a few minutes until it's ready to be served on a bed of hot rice. You can also enjoy this with bread or roti.
A blend of spices and cubes of chicken cooked in a coconut curry base, Maldivian chicken curry is heaven-sent. Pandan leaves, pepper, garlic, and lime juice are some of the exotic ingredients added to flavour the dish. You can enjoy Maldivian chicken curry with anything, but the locals prefer to pair it with rice, bread, and roti. This can be quite spicy, so if you are not used to eating spicy food, you should let the cook know in advance.
This is a local beverage enjoyed by tourists. A blend of fruit juices like orange and pineapple is mixed with skimmed rum and brandy to make this refreshing drink. Order a glass of Maldivian Lady on a date night and you will be in for an intoxicating and romantic experience.
Known to tourists as fish soup, Garudhiya is made of tuna and spices. Fish pieces are cooked in a pot of water along with spices until it becomes a slightly thick consistency. This is a Maldivian comfort food eaten with bread or roti. You can also enjoy this with rice, and if you order rice with this, you'll also be served a side of onions and lime wedges.
Gulha is a popular evening snack in the Maldives. These are essentially fried dough balls filled with tuna, onions, and grated coconut. This is a favourite snack you can have whenever you feel like having a snack. Although the Maldives isn't known for its street food, Gulha can be seen in stacks at roadside stalls.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
